Spa/hot tub cover removal apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A spa cover removal apparatus for assisting in the repositioning and removal of a spa cover from a spa/hot tub, the spa cover having a rear edge disposed between opposite side edges, and the spa having a back surface disposed between opposing spa sides which include a bottom side portion, the spa cover removal apparatus comprising:
- a pair of elongate spaced apart side arms, each side arm being disposed adjacent a spa side of the spa wherein one end of each side arm is adapted to be pivotally connected to the bottom side portion of a spa side, and the opposing end is adapted to rotatingly engage a side edge of the spa cover such that the spa cover can rotate in relation to the side arms, the arrangement of each side arm being the mirror image of the other, wherein a horizontal cover rotation axis is defined by the axis of rotation of the spa cover relative to the side arms;
a back rack adapted to be pivotally coupled to the rear edge of the spa cover to enable the spa cover to pivot, relative to the back rack, about a horizontal cover pivot axis; and
a base bracket assembly for pivotally connecting the back rack to the back surface of the spa, to enable the back rack to pivot, relative to the base bracket assembly, about a substantially horizontal back rack pivot axis such that as a rearwardly directed force is increasingly applied to the spa cover causing the same to move rearward, the side arms pivot relative to the spa, and the back rack pivots relative to the base bracket assembly, responsive to rearward movement of the spa cover wherein the spa cover shifts from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back surface of the spa.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spa cover removal apparatus. The removal apparatus includes a pair of elongate spaced apart side arms. One end of each side arm is pivotally connected to the bottom side portion of a spa side, and the opposing end rotatingly engages a side edge of the spa cover. In this way, the spa cover can rotate in relation to the side arms such that a horizontal cover rotation axis is defined by the axis of rotation of the spa cover relative to the side arms. A back rack is pivotally coupled to the rear edge of the spa cover to enable the spa cover to pivot, relative to the back rack, about a horizontal cover pivot axis. In addition, a base bracket assembly is provided for pivotally connecting the back rack to the back surface of the spa. This enables the back rack to pivot, relative to the base bracket assembly, about a substantially horizontal back rack pivot axis. With this arrangement, a rearwardly directed force can be increasingly applied to the spa cover causing the same to lift and move rearward, above the spa, wherein the side arms pivot relative to the spa, and the back rack pivots relative to the base bracket assembly, responsive to rearward movement of the spa cover. As a result, the spa cover shifts from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back surface of the spa.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A spa cover removal apparatus for assisting in the repositioning and removal of a spa cover from a spa/hot tub, the spa cover having a rear edge disposed between opposite side edges, and the spa having a back surface disposed between opposing spa sides which include a bottom side portion, the spa cover removal apparatus comprising:
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a pair of elongate spaced apart side arms, each side arm being disposed adjacent a spa side of the spa wherein one end of each side arm is adapted to be pivotally connected to the bottom side portion of a spa side, and the opposing end is adapted to rotatingly engage a side edge of the spa cover such that the spa cover can rotate in relation to the side arms, the arrangement of each side arm being the mirror image of the other, wherein a horizontal cover rotation axis is defined by the axis of rotation of the spa cover relative to the side arms; a back rack adapted to be pivotally coupled to the rear edge of the spa cover to enable the spa cover to pivot, relative to the back rack, about a horizontal cover pivot axis; and a base bracket assembly for pivotally connecting the back rack to the back surface of the spa, to enable the back rack to pivot, relative to the base bracket assembly, about a substantially horizontal back rack pivot axis such that as a rearwardly directed force is increasingly applied to the spa cover causing the same to move rearward, the side arms pivot relative to the spa, and the back rack pivots relative to the base bracket assembly, responsive to rearward movement of the spa cover wherein the spa cover shifts from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back surface of the spa. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A spa cover removal apparatus for assisting in the repositioning and removal of a spa cover from a spa/hot tub, the spa cover having a rear edge disposed between opposite side edges, and the spa having a back surface disposed between opposing spa sides which include a bottom side portion, the spa cover removal apparatus comprising:
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a pair of elongate spaced apart side arms, each side arm being disposed adjacent a spa side of the spa wherein one end of each side arm is adapted to be pivotally connected to the bottom side portion of a spa side, and the opposing end is adapted to rotatingly engage a side edge of the spa cover such that the spa cover can rotate in relation to the side arms, the arrangement of each side arm being the mirror image of the other, wherein a horizontal cover rotation axis is defined by the axis of rotation of the spa cover relative to the side arms; a back rack adopted to be pivotally coupled to the rear edge of the spa cover to enable the spa cover to pivot, relative to the back rack, about a horizontal cover pivot axis; a base bracket assembly for pivotally connecting the back rack to the back surface of the spa, to enable the back rack to pivot, relative to the base bracket assembly, about a substantially horizontal back rack pivot axis such that as the spa cover is urged rearward, the side arms pivot relative to the spa, and the back rack pivots relative to the base bracket assembly, responsive to rearward movement of the spa cover wherein the spa cover shifts from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back surface of the spa; and a gas spring operatively disposed between the base bracket assembly and the back rack, the gas spring adapted to provide increasing resistance against the pivoting action of the back rack as the back rack pivots about the back rack pivot axis to shift the spa cover to the second stowed position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of employing a spa cover removal apparatus for assisting in the repositioning and removal of a spa cover from a spa/hot tub, the spa cover having a rear edge disposed between opposite side edges, and the spa having a back surface disposed between opposing spa sides which include a bottom side portion, the method comprising the steps:
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providing a pair of elongate spaced apart side arms, each side arm being disposed adjacent a spa side of the spa wherein one end of each side arm is pivotally connected to the bottom side portion of a spa side, and the opposing end rotatingly engages a side edge of the spa cover such that the spa cover can rotate in relation to the side arms, the arrangement of each side arm being the mirror image of the other, wherein a horizontal cover rotation axis is defined by the axis of rotation of the spa cover relative to the side arms; pivotally coupling a back rack to the rear edge of the spa cover to enable the spa cover to pivot, relative to the back rack, about a horizontal cover pivot axis; and providing a base bracket assembly for pivotally supporting the back rack from the back surface of the spa, to enable the back rack to pivot, relative to the base bracket assembly, about a substantially horizontal back rack pivot axis; and urging the spa cover rearward such that the side arms pivot relative to the spa, and the back rack pivots relative to the base bracket assembly, responsive to rearward movement of the spa cover wherein the spa cover shifts from a first horizontal covering position over the spa, to a second stowed position adjacent the back surface of the spa. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification